The right-hander's salary makes him hard to unload in a trade.
The Mets are actively shopping right-hander Bartolo Colon and are "trying hard" to move him in a trade, according to Danny Knobler of ESPNNewYork.com. Despite their efforts, Colon's contract status and average performance on the season are making it difficult for the team to deal him, according to reports.
Multiple teams have called the Mets to express interest in Colon, according to Marc Carig of Newsday, who notes that the Mets are not looking to pay some of Colon's salary for next season if they decide to deal him. As Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported, Colon's $11M salary for next year seems to be a serious obstacle for getting a deal done,e because teams have concerns about his age, weight, and steroid use in the past.
Sherman writes that Colon would draw significant interest on the trade market if his contract was expiring at the end of the season, but teams are hesitant to take on an $11M contract for a pitcher who will turn 42 in late May of next season.
Teams looking for rotation help include the Yankees, Orioles and Blue Jays, who could all make a run at Colon if the Mets are desperate to deal him and are willing to eat a large amount of his salary. Sherman reports that the Giants have not yet engaged the Mets on a possible match for Colon, and would only do so if the Mets are willing to take on a large chunk of his salary for next season.
Colon, who signed a two-year deal with the Mets last winter, is 8-8 with a 4.12 ERA in 19 starts so far this season.